Delaney's test debut 'unbelievable' says dad | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

Peter Delany will be watching his son very closely as he makes his All Blacks test debut in the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

As a proud father he naturally wants to see his boy Mike have a top game at pivot against Italy. But he is also interested to see how he does in the pre-match haka.

"I am dying to see him perform the haka. I think the last time he did it he was at Rotorua Boys High School," Mr Delany said.

"Hopefully there won't be too much lip-syncing ... like Britney Spears."

Mr Delany's pride is obvious as he talks about his son's first international callup after an outstanding season for Bay of Plenty in the Air New Zealand Cup.

With Dan Carter out through suspension, the Bay first-five leap-frogged Stephen Donald to make the starting side to take on the Azzurri at San Siro in Milan.

Mr Delany said just thinking about his son performing the haka sent chills down his spine.

"It's unbelievable. I have to keep pinching myself."

He said during the season, while he felt there was a possibility Mike could get the call for the Northern Hemisphere tour, even his 27-year-old son was not confident and had  booked himself a Gold Coast holiday.

Dad had  been left with the task of explaining to a travel agent why his son could not take the holiday, and trying to get a refund.

Mr Delany said he would be up well before the match kicks off at 3am (NZT) to make sure his television was working. At this stage he plans to watch the match on his own at home but said there had been threats from friends to turn up with food and drink to help cheer on his boy. 

He said Mike's sister Sarah and older brother Simon up in Auckland would also be watching their sibling with pride.

Father and son have been keeping in touch daily, mainly through text messages.

"He says the All Blacks have been mobbed everywhere they go. He has also been getting dozens of texts and messages and the like wishing him well."

Before the game, Mr Delany said he would be sending his son a standard text that he sent him before every game.

"Obviously this is more than the standard game though."

Mr Delany is a committee member of Mount Maunganui Rugby Club, the club which launched his son on the path to the All Blacks following a sterling 2005 season which proved a pivotal move in his career, when he returned to the Bay of Plenty.

He marked himself as a player to watch when he racked up 267 points that season for the Mt Maunganui Rugby Club.

Club president Pat Jones said tonight would be the first time in about 10 years that he would get up in the middle of the night to watch a match.

"We are just chuffed for him. He may have been surprised to have been selected but there were a lot of people who were not surprised," Mr Jones said.

"He has really had to battle for it and work hard. Initially he had a real job to impress the Bay and also at Super 14 level ... but he worked his way in."

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Curragh said the rise to the top level for the 1.76m, 86kg Delany was a proud moment for them and also bodes well for the future of the province.

"It's great for Bay rugby to have not only Mike but also Tanerau Latimer in the team," Mr Curragh said.

He said it showed others that you could play for the Bay and make it to the All Blacks.

"Mike will also bring to the union a huge amount of mana, as well as training techniques ... and we can pick up on that."

Mr Curragh said he had sent Delany a text telling him simply to enjoy the moment.

All of Delany's supporters know it won't be an easy debut in front of 80,000 fans in the cavernous Milan football cauldron.

But all are confident in the ability of Delany and the All Blacks to come through.